The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1887-09-08

darkness but strangest OF all he
had q little wire stretched for miles
over hills aud valleys to the great
city. This wire talked to him in u
queer language which no one else
could understand. "Tick, tick,
tickety tick il said and told him
things that happened miles aud
miles away.
Marie did not know how wise the
wizard was when he came to her
home one morning and asked for q
drink of water. He followed her to
the spring when she went for it, and
stopped by the way to break open a
curious stone. He showed Marie
how queerly marked il was inside
and then told her story about it.
The usually timid maiden was so in
terested she forgot to be frightened
and thus O strong friendship be>
tween the two was begun.
After this tho wizard often cf me
to the widows chalet for rest aud re-
freshment on his long rambles, aud
Marie unconsciously revealed her
charms to him one by one until long
before the first summer was ended
the stranger knew that no girl in oil
Canton could be compared with
Marie.
| On the other side OF the moun>
tain from the widow Neur's home
lived another widow. She, too, had
but one child, who was the
pride and delight Of her life, the
young hunter and guide, Gustavue
Friel.
Every one knew and liked Gusta-
vus. Tall, straight and handsome
with flashing brown eyes, and O
laugh as frank ns childs be was
the favorite Of the Canton, and there
was not girl within its bounds who
would not have been proud to plight
her tioth With him. Gustavus, how
lever, cared little for the Obgadin
maidens. He would far rather chase
the chamois up the mountain side
or guide travellers - - it's dan
VITO the MOST OF mo maId...-- "a
hamlet.
His mother often said MY sor
: when wilt thou bring mo home
{ daughter aud thyself wife p
And Gustavus, smiling and press.
ing kiss on her forehead, woul,
answer
'Whon l find maid as good a
thou, mother but | want no idle
: shrllrvoiced wife to disturb ou
' quiet home
I, But Que day his mother said NOR,
sadly aud seriously than ever before
'Gustavus. l am growing old ant
feeble. l can no longer mako ant
mend thy clothes aud keep ou
home. Thou must have wife
Promise me at the fete next woel
thou wilt choose one from amoug
the maideDs there
Gustavus reluctantly gave her th'
desired promise, but it weighed
; heavily upon him. He could thinl
OF nothing elso afterward, and thu
more he pondorcd the heavier hi,
heart grow. At last he seized his
gun aud went out on tho noun.
) tain, but the perlexing questions
followed him until in despair bt
} threw himself on the ground, groan'
ing, oh, that some wise man would
make this choice for me =
a moment after ho looked mp anf
saw, as il in answer to his wish, the
wizard approaching bim. 'Why,' he
exclaimed to himself, did I not think
of him before I Surely he, If any
one, can help me. Then, with G
throbbing heart, Gustavus spranp
up and advanced to meet him. The
wizard greeted Gustavus warmly,
for he felt strong friendship for
the young guide who had taken him
safely through manya dangerous
mountain excursion.
| And now his sympathetic queso
ton, Why, what's troubling you,
boy p opened the way for Gustavus
to pour out all his perplexity, end
ing his recital with the question,
'Canst thou not help me choose a
lgood wife. who will make my life
happy, from the maidens at the fete
next week p
The wizard smiled alphabetically,
and then thought in silence q little
while before he answered
IT. pure, true heart is united to
a true, pure heart, both lives must
n l. Il.